The bill to legalize Sunday alcohol sales in Indiana has been introduced, and looser rules for cold beer sales are not part of it.
House Public Policy Chairman Ben Smaltz’s bill mirrors the recommendation of a study committee, allowing alcohol sales from noon to eight p-m on Sundays. If passed, it’d be the first time since Prohibition that stores have been allowed to sell alcohol on Sunday.
But the committee didn’t call for any change in the rule that only liquor stores can sell beer cold, and Smaltz’s bill doesn’t either.
Smaltz says when he’s surveyed his constituents, a “passionate small majority” wants to see Sunday sales legalized. When he asks about Sunday sales and cold beer, people say they support both. But Smaltz says when the issues are separated, the cold beer question gets a shrug.
Smaltz says he expects House Republicans will support the bill, but says he’s not going to try to predict whether the bill will pass. He says he’ll work to forge a consensus with the Senate.
